Harley Richard “Dick” Hanson, 88, of Scotia died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, at the Grand Island Veterans Hospital in Grand Island.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Oconto Community Building in Oconto. Pastor Jonathan Musgraves will officiate. Burial with full military honors will be in the Oconto Community Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Govier Funeral Home in Broken Bow with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
Dick was born May 24, 1924, in Custer County on the family farm near Oconto to Harley Edgar and Daisy (Donelson) Hanson.
He attended Lower Lodi School for grade school and rode his bike to Oconto to attend Oconto High School, graduating in 1941. He entered the U.S. Army on June 22, 1943, serving in France during World War II with the 103rd Infantry Division and was honorably discharged on Feb. 10, 1946. He received the Purple Heart medal.
Dick became a rural mail carrier in Oconto when he returned from the Army in 1946 until his retirement in 1973. It was while delivering mail that he met the love of his life, Ollie Nielsen, the rural schoolteacher at Tuckerville School. They were married July 10, 1949, at Ollie’s parents’ home in Litchfield. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year.
Dick was a pioneer recycler. He tore down multiple buildings in Custer County using the materials to build two homes and many outbuildings. He also farmed during this time. Their union was blessed with four children Judy, Jane, Richard and Harley Dean.
Dick was active in the Oconto community as a member of the Masons, Shriners, American Legion, Oconto Volunteer Fire Department and the United Methodist Church. He enjoyed auctions adding to his collections of cars, coins, stamps, antiques and tools.
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